In 1990 Justin Fashanu became the first openly-gay player in English football after announcing his homosexuality in an interview with The Sun newspaper. In a decision that seems more likely to have been provoked, most prominently by then Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough, Fashanu suffered a severe backlash of verbal abuse, hostility and family disownment.
After eight years of ridicule and numerous stories of his sexual activity, Fashanu was found hanged on 3rd May 1998.
23 years on and Justin Fashanu remains the only English league professional to publicly address his sexuality whilst still in the game.
Though there have been other footballers to confirm their homosexuality, none of which were currently involved in English football at the time.
Former Leeds United star Robbie Rogers is one and English born Anton Hysen, who plays his football in Sweden, is another.
The former, Rogers, promptly quit the game explaining that it would be “impossible” to carry on playing after his announcement. Rogers, however, quickly reversed his decision and signed for MLS side LA Galaxy.
After the Football Association failed with a campaign to combat homophobia in 2010, gay rights charity Stonewall and sports betting company Paddy Power have joined forces rid the English game of everything homophobic.
“It's time for football clubs and players to step up and make a visible stand against homophobia in our national game.
"By wearing rainbow laces, players will send a message of support to gay players and can begin to drag football into the 21st Century" Claimed Stonewall deputy chief executive Laura Doughty.
As Laura Doughty explained Stonewall will lead a campaign, which has been heavily supported and funded by Paddy Power, aiming to assure the safety and support that gay professional footballers will receive if they choose to announce their homosexuality to the public.
Rainbow laces have been sent to every professional player in the English football leagues while the hash tag #RBGF (Right Behind Gay Footballers), on social networking site Twitter, will also be in full motion for this weekend’s football.
The rainbow is recognised as a symbol for the gay and lesbian pride communuty.
But just how radical and successful can this campaign be? It is already clear that the Premier League champions, Manchester United, have ruled themselves out of wearing the rainbow laces due to a different betting sponsor, raising concerns about Stonewall's partnership with Paddy Power.
This is a bookmakers who recently had to apologise after an advertisemebt for Cheltenham Ladies Day was banned for being offensive to the transgender community. Their anti-homophobic slogan for this campaign has also been criticised, mainly by gay rights group ‘Football v Homophobia’.
'FvH' explained their decision to withdraw their support regarding the leading slogan; ‘Right behind gay footballers’. The statement read:
"Our discomfort is with the reliance on sexualised innuendo and stereotypes about gay men.
"We feel it is incongruous to run a campaign aiming to change football culture whilst using language which reinforces the very stereotypes.”
Though Stonewall's media manager, Richard Lane, thought differently:
"The message is certainly tongue in cheek but it is going to get people engaged. The attention it's receiving means it's starting debates and that can only be a good thing."
Paddy Power's involvement has certainly raised questions, many proffessional clubs thought it to be a joke when boxes of rainbow laces were delivered to each team, covered in paddy power branding and with the 'crass' slogan splashed accross the front.
Although the FA officially outlawed homophobic chanting in 2007 offensive chants have been most frequently heard in matches that have involved Brighton & Hove Albion, who have been at the brunt of a majority of abusive gay chants.
In May of this year, a study confirmed that Brighton fans were being subjected to homosexual abuse at over 70% of away games.
In the past, bans have been handed out to both Southampton and Millwall fans while such players as Ravel Morrison and Michael Ball have recently been fined for their involvment in homophobic tweets.
The FA’s failed campaign in 2010, due to a substantial lack of professional players or coaches willing to front and represent the movement, is just proof as to how hard this task will prove.
The only club currently confirmed to be partaking in this weekend’s anti-homophobic campaign are Everton, but as many suspect, there will be minimal support of Stonewall's and Paddy Power's joint campaign throughout the English leagues.
